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A UMNS Commentary
By Bishop John L. Hopkins*

3:00 P.M. EST April 12, 2010 | (UMNS)

Bishop John Hopkins reports on the work of the Connectional Table at the 2008 General Conference. A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose.

When the Connectional Table meets in Manila, Philippines, the third week of April, it will address the growing momentum for change rapidly building across The United Methodist Church.

Fueled by a passion to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, we are looking at major denominational change for the first time in more than 40 years. Most people believe it is long overdue.

Demand for change in other people is easy; accepting responsibility for change in ourselves takes real courage. As we continue to celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, we affirm that in our baptism we die to self and rise to live a new life in Christ. I am convinced that the change we need is spiritual and can begin with every leader throughout our church taking responsibility for re-ordering the church in faithful ways. Through active repentance and prayer, we can open our hearts and loosen our grip on those things we think belong to us but really belong to God.

The Connectional Table was created by the General Conference in 2004 to bring vision, mission and money to the same table in order to align and focus the relative independent elements of our church. Specifically, there was the charge: “To be a forum for the understanding and implementation of the vision, mission, and ministries of the global church as determined in consultation with the Council of Bishops and/or the actions of General Conference.” (Paragraph 905.1 of the Book of Discipline)

To that end, we have been working closely with the Council of Bishops in the Call to Action Steering Team and monitoring other groups developing important initiatives for change.

The goals for the upcoming meeting in Manila are many:

• Appreciate what God is doing through The United Methodist Church in the Philippines.
• Understand central conferences and the affiliated/autonomous relationships and how these relates to the future of The United Methodist Church.
• Consult with the Study Committee on the Worldwide Nature of The United Methodist Church (http://www.worldwideumc.org/) and listen to its recommendations.
• Learn about racial-ethnic caucuses and their national plans in the United States.
• Engage the Connectional Table in conversation with the Call to Action Steering Team.
• Hear stories of how the Four Areas of Focus come together in the specific work of our church in the Philippines.
• Develop a roadmap for how we work with the Council of Bishops and other groups to aggregate the various streams of change that will be recommended to the 2012 General Conference.
• Celebrate the progress we’ve made on the essential functions of the Connectional Table.
• Engage in a discussion of metrics for our mission to share with Council of Bishops.
• Hold conversations about central conference participation in general church apportionments.
• Listen to reasons for the General Council on Finance and Administration’s recommendation for a special session of General Conference

Bishop Mary Virginia Taylor, the Rev. Eddie Fox and Bishop John Hopkins sing Nov. 8, 2008, during a Connectional Table meeting. A UMNS file photo by Linda Green.
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As you can see, we have an ambitious agenda. We will listen to many voices that should be heard. I pray these voices will help guide us to some conclusions around where God is leading in these challenging and opportune times.

If we want real change, I believe it will come more from our right (imaginative) brain than from our left (rational) brain. To receive God’s blessing, we have to be open to that which is new and innovative. Substantial change is more about affirming what is “right” than criticizing what is “wrong”; more about letting go than holding on; and more about faith than being right.

The Apostle Paul said it well. “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NRSV)

I cannot wait to see what God will be doing next with The United Methodist Church.

*Hopkins is chairperson of the Connectional Table and resident bishop of The United Methodist Church’s East Ohio Annual (regional) Conference.

News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.